Printing mechanism for accounting machines



Feb. 3, 1942. w. A. ANDERsoN y 2,272,079

PRINTING MCHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES y Filed Dee.l so, 193e 5 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 3, 1942. w. A. ANDERSON PRINTING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 30, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2` 1=|.?1942.v w. A. Alvmansfm l2,272,079

PRINTING MECHANISM FIOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES n Filed nec. so, 193s y 5 slief-ma-shwc s l lNvENToR WALTER AAN'oERsoN ATTORNEY Feb. 3, 1942. w. A, ANDERSONA 2,272,079 PRINTING MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES l i Filed Dec. zo, 1958 `5 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR WALTER AANDERSON o l, inf/ o. 5 Y v rJ Feb. 3, 1942. w. A. ANDERSON PRINTING' MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 30, 1958 INVENTOR WALTER AANDEQSON Flei I w gm@ Patented Feb. 3, 1942 c yUNI'IED STATES PATENT 4 oFFI'Clsr PRINTING MECHANISM Fon. ACCOUNTING y MACHINES Walter A. Anderson, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of yDelaware f Application December 3o, 193s, serial No. 248,429

whims. v(C1. loi-93) sort of characters or mutilations immediately to 1 the left of the printed amount sov that persons l handling the check will not be able to insert'additional numerals at the left f or the purpose of giving the check a higher apparent value. The check may be protected in a number vof ways such as mutilating the necessary portion of the check after the amountis printed, or printing on the check the necessary characters to the left of the amount, either before or after the amount, is printed by the accounting machine. These methods require additional handlingv of the checks, and are for this reason objectionable. c

It is therefore an object vof the present inven- 'tion-toproylde the necessary protection by printing characters to the left ofthe printed amount kby the printing mechanism of the accounting construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which areset'forth in appended c claims, anda preferred embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the draw- 35 ends of arms I I oi typebars 3. lThe type bars ings which accompany and form part ofthe specification. l

In the drawings: n Figure 1 is a perspective view of an accounting machine embodying thepresent'invention,

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view ofthe keyboard, Y c 'i Figure 3 is a'right side elevation of parts of the actuating mechanism of the machine and of the mechanism for controlling operation of the present invention by av traveling paper carriage, 46 Figure 4 is a detail view of parts of the mechanism for preventing printing of the characters, -Figure 5 is a detail rear view of parts of the mechanism for preventing printing of the char- Figure 6 is a perspective view ofthe printing n Figure 7 detail view of parts shown in Figr ure 6,

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are right side elevations of'V details of the parts used to allow zeros 'instead 5 of characters to be printed where necessary to the right of the highest'digit in an amount.

Figure 11 Vshows the appearance of various amounts printed by the machine, and

Figures 12 and 13 are front elevational'views y l-showing the type bars as they appear from the front of' the' machine and showing, inl dotted lines,

the numerals ,andr charactersAk appearing on the, rear face ofthe type, Figure 13 showing lthe position of the type bars for printingthe amount l shown above the type bars. y A

1. Printing'mechanism in general f The present invention is shown applied to a machine similar to the one disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,194,270 vto Oscar Sund`v strand. i y

The machine is operated byA an electric motor (not shown) under control of a motor bar I, or under the. control of a traveling paper' carriage l`. 2, in the manner disclosedin said patent. Printing is'accomplished by type carried ony type bars 3 (Figure 3) that are supported for verticalmovement in the machine.- The type-bars areoperated by springs 5, through .levers 6 pivoted at 1 and connected at 8 with the lower ends of the type bars. The extent ofvertical movement of thejtype barsis controlled'by pins Il'that are -moved by amount keysiIZ into the path voi vertically disposed rods Il connected to the forward o with the upper edges of levers 8. Two similar' arms I1, only one 'of which'is shown, are secured to drive shaftfi and are each provided with a roller such as 2I,`restingin a cam slot in the forward end of its respective'arm I5.

Operation'of the machine causes drive shaft y.

I 8y to rotate counter-clockwise, then clockwise. during each cycle. YThis movement raises and lowers arms I5, allowing-springs 5 to move levers 6 above their pivots vl. and raise the type bars '68 ated, are "held in their zero position by a plate 22. The details of this mechanism are fully d isclosed in the above mentioned patent.

It will be noted that the type bars all lie normally in a position where their uppermost type lies one step below the printing point, so that during the first part of a machine cycle all the type bars must rise one step before their uppermost type are in position to print.

When drive shaft I8 completes its counterclockwise movement. type bars 3 lhave all risen to their fullest extents as determined by the amount indexed on the keyboard. Shortly thereafter hammers 23 are tripped and strike the type to effect the impression. Shaft I8 then returns the type bars to their original position.

2. Normal tripping of the hammers Referring to Figure 6, a shaft 24 is Journaled in the machine frame and is provided. with two depending arms 25 and 26. A rod 21 passes through the `lower ends of arms 25 and 26 and extends a short distance to the left of arm 25. A connection, shown in the above mentioned patent, between drive shaft I8 and the left end of rod 21, moves rod 21 and arms 25 and 26 a short distance counter-clockwise about shaft 24. A lever 28 is pivoted on rod 21 and has'a downwardly extending portion 3| that rests on the overturned right hand end of a lever 32 pivoted at 33 on the machine frame. The overturned portion of lever 32 is of suflicient width to support the portion 8| of lever 28 during its movement to the right when rod 21 is operated. The left end of lever 32 lies .under the lower end of an arm 34 that has an offset portion 35, and which is secured to a shaft 35 journaled in the frame at both sides of the machine. A spring 31 is connected to shaft 24 and to the left end ef lever 28 to tension the lever clockwise about rod 21. Such movement of the lever, however, is normally prevented by the left end of lever 32 resting against the lower end of arm 34.

A series of latches 38 are journaled on` a rod 4| supported in the machine frame. These latches are each provided with a notch 42 in its upper portion and a shoulder 43 on its lower portion. Each of the latches except the one at the extreme left is provided with an offset flange 44 that extends in the path of oscillation of the adjacent latch to the left. By these flanges, oscillation counter-clockwise of any latch 38 is effective to operate all the latches to the right, the latches to the right corresponding to the lower decimal orders. A spring 45 is provided for each latch 38 to tension the latches clockwise about rod 4|.

Printing hammers 23 are pivoted on a rod 45 supported in the machine frame, and are each provided with a spring 41 to drive them clockwise about rod 46 to effect printing. Hammers 23 are provided with lower arms 48, the left end of the arms being normally engaged by notches 42 in latches 38.

The right hand end of lever 28 lies in line with the shoulder of the extreme left latch 38, so that the above described movement of lever 28 to the right oscillates the left latch 38 counter-clockwise. and, because of the offest flanges 44, trips the other hammers as well. In this way printing is effected in all the denominational orders during each normal cycle of the machine.

3. Temporarily preventing printing to the left of an amount 'I'o prevent printing to the left of an amount.

'Ihis trips the left printing hammer 23 as is desirable when the printing is to be done on forms such as statement or Journal sheets, the following mechanism is provided.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a depressible release keyi 5| is provided on the keyboard. and lis connected to a lever 52 pivoted at 53 and provided with anbnsetarm u. A linx u is connected to a crank portion 58 on the right hand end (Figure 6) of shaft 38. The lower end of link 55 rests on a horizontal portion 51 of a lever 58 pivoted at 8|. Depression of the release key moves arm 54 about vv53 as a pivot. causing it to strike a pin 82 on link 55 and move the link to the left (Figure 3) 'I'his rotates shaft 35 (Figure 6) clockwise and moves the lower end of arm 34 to the left sufliciently to bring'a step 83 above .the left end (Figure 6) of lever 32.A Step 83 is a suicient distance above the lower end of arm 34 to allow spring 31 to lower the right hand end of lever 28 to a position where it is too low to strike shoulder 43 on the left handlatch 33 when lever 28 is moved to the right during the cycle. g

l With lever 28 disabled, it is necessary to provide a means that will trip the Ahammers corresponding to the digits of the amount indexed on the keyboard. To dothis, a means similar to that disclosed in the above mentioned patent is provided.

This means includes a series of arms 84, one for each type bar. These arms arefpivoted on rod 21 and are tensioned upwardly, by springs 45, against studs on the type bars. When a type bar rises two or more steps, that is, to its position for printing the numeral "1 or a higher numeral, its associated arm 84 rises sumciently to engage a shoulder 88 with shoulder 43 on its corresponding latch 38. Subsequent movement of rod 21 to the right during the cycle is then effective to rotate the latch 38 and trip the hammer. Due to the offset flanges 44, the tripping of any latch effects tripping of the remaining latches to the right so that if the amount set upv on the keyboard contains zeros, they are printed. It will be observed from Figure 7 that shoulder 43 on the left hand latch 38 is made sufficiently broad to accommodate vits arm 54 as well as lever 28.

The function of the release key may alsov be performed automatically, under control of the traveling carriage 2. This means includes one or more magazines 51 (Figures 3 and 5) secured to the traveling carriage and carrying a lug 88 lying in line with a roller 1| carried by a lever 12 pivoted at 13. As the carriage moves into a columnar position in which it is desired that the above described mechanism shall operate to prevent the printing of symbols, lug 88 depresses roller 1| and lever 12. This lowers a rod 14 resting on the horizontal arm of lever 58 and rotates the lever, moving link 55 to the left and rotating shaft 38 (Figure 6) in the same manner as if the release key had been depressed.

Shaft 38, link 55 and the associated parts are restored to normal position by a spring 15 (Figures 3 and 4) 4. Substitution of zeros fory characters to the right ol the digit of highest order in an amount f Referring to Figure 11, it is seen that characters in the form of asterisks are printed to the left of the digit of highest order in printed amounts, and, referring to Figure 9, it is seen that these characters are printed by having the character type lsituated between the zero type v85 on each type bar.

and the platen. vSince characters are 'normally Printed in.' the 4th5th, 6th, '1th and 8th decimal bar in the r1th decimal order rises only .the type vduring this operation. :In this instance, stud orders, when the type lbars in these decimal orders do not rise above the zero positions, it is necessary to provide a means to substitute zeros These brackets have their upper edges bent over to rest on top of the type bars, the bent-over f for the characters in the decimal orders .where 82 ,in the ,7th ordenthrough its contact with flange 8|;in the 8th order, lifts lever 88 inthe 6th order,iianges 8| and'studs 82 causing levers `88 in also the 5th and 4th decimal orders to .be

. raised. Since the type bars in the 4th. 5th and above the positionl shown in Figure 8, that is, to the position shown in Figure 10, brackets 18y portions having slots embracing screws 11` se- A cured in the upper ends of the type. bars. The lower ends of brackets 18 also are. slotted to receive headed studs such as 18 secured in theA l downwardly to lie between the zero type and the platen, the lower end of the arm being provided with an asterisk type 82 and a boss 83. A spring 8l is connected to each bracket 18 and to a stud The tension of these springs normally holds brackets18 in` their lower position and away from the platen.

By this construction,'when the typev bars are'v raised one step from their lowermost positions illustrated in Figure 12, the asterisk type 82 is brought to the printing point, as illustrated in Figure 8. Tripping of the hammers with the type in this position causes the zero type to strike boss 83 and carry the asterisk type 82, together with brackets 18, forward, the type 82 printingn an asterisk on the paper. When'the hammers are withdrawn, the individual type springs, disclosed in the above mentioned patent, return the zero type to the position shown in Figure 8, while spring 88 returns type 82 and brackets 18 to their initial position shown in Figurel 8.

To lif-t type 82 outof the path of the zero type, the following parts are provided. A series of levers 88 (Figure 8), one for each bracket 18, are pivoted on a rod 81 and have their left ends lying under studs 88 on brackets 18. Each lever 88 is provided with an overturnedv iiange 9| (Figures 8 and 13) and a stud 92, the studs each lying under the flange 9| of lever 88 in the next lower denominational order. A series of levers 93, one for each lever 88, also arepivoted on rod 81. Each lever 93 has a roller 98 (Figures 8 and 135 supporting its corresponding lever'88. A spring 95 is connected to each lever 93 and to the machine frame to tension the levers clockwise about rod 81, their -clockwise movement being limited by st uds 98 on the type bars.

By thesek parts, movement of a type bar from its lowermost position shown in Figure 12 to its character (or zero) printing position shown ln Figure 8, permits spring 95 to raise levers 93v 6th decimal orders remain s in their character (or zero) position illustrated in Figure 8, while their associated levers k-88 are raisedone step associated with these type bars are raised to their positionk shown in Figure l10 where type 82 is above the path of the zero type.

n win be noted `that each of the springs.y vsu `-ris sumciently strong to raise all the levers 88 and v brackets 18 oi lower orders.

,Withlthe character types'82 inthe 4th, 5th andv 6th positions above vtheir associatedzero type, releaseof the hammers causes zeros to be printed in these orders, Vso that the printing will appear as illustrated on the second line in Figure 11. When the type bars are restored 'during the latter part ofthe cycle, levers 88 and 98 and brackets 18 are restored to their initial positions under control of studs 98.

Figure 11 illustrates the appearance o1' different printed amounts, the bottom line illustratingthe appearance of an amount printed with'tne release key 8| depressed.

To properly align the character type 82 for printing, and to4 prevent mutilation of the face of the'zero type, boss 88 yconforms in shape to the cavity in the face oi' the zero type, and is of sufficient thickness to prevent the face voi! 'the' type from striking arm 8|. y

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulilll the objects'primarily stated, it is to be understood thatitlis not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible oi' embodiment in various i'orms all coming within the scope of the claims supportsy for moving a plurality -of said second mentioned supports to move the character type out :offprinting position.

2.*In a machine oi' `the class described, fa

platen, a pluralityof type supports, numeral type purpose of illustration, we will consider that 18 slidably supported therein for individual move- `ment toward the platen for printing, an auxiliary and out o1' printing position, mdfmeans controlled by one of said first mentioned supports i'ormoving a plurality oi' said character type out of printing position.

3. In a machine of the class described, reciprocatory type bars, numeral type lslidably mounted thereon, printing hammers for striking vthe knumeral type individually, character type supported by the type bars and situated, during type and the platen during a machine opera--v tion.

5. In a machine of the' class described, a

platen, a plurality of type bars carrying type,v

means to move the type toward the platen to e!- fect printing, and means controlled by one bar to move one oi.' the type on another bar into and out of the path of movement of another type on the same bar.

6. In a machine of the class described, a

platen, a type support, a type thereon, an auxiliary type situated between the first mentioned type and the platen, a support for said auxiliary type mounted on the first mentioned support and having limited movement relative thereto, and means to move the auxiliary type away from the first mentioned type through movement ot the auxiliary type support.

7. In a machine ot the class described, a platen, a type support, a type thereon, an auxiliary type support, a type thereon normally situated between the first mentioned 'type and lthe platen, an adjustable connection between the auxiliary support and the first mentioned support, the amount of adjustment providedbeing sumcient to accommodate movement o! the auxiliary type from between the first mentioned type and the platen, and means 'to so move the auxiliary type. y WALTER A. ANDERSON. 

